Latch



y 1946? H. ENGERT 2,403,065

LA-TCH A Filed Nov. 15, 1943 Patented July 2, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE LATCH I Harry Engert, Chicago, Ill, Application November 15, 1943, serial No. s e e:

4 Claims. (Cl. 29257) My invention relates to, latches. Oneo-f the objects of my invention is to provide an improved latch. having a loophandle portion-which will gravitate to blocked position in either the latched or unlatched condition. a y

A further object is to providesuc. latch construction which can be inverted so that the latch bolt can be madeto project either to; the: right or to the left as desired.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved Ll-shaped keeper which can be used in either one of two positions with respect to the bolt.

Further objects will appear from the description and claims.

In the drawing in which an embodiment of my invention is illustrated:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a latch construction showing the bolt projecting toward the right;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the construction shown in Fig.

Fig. 3 is a section of'the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an elevation showing th bolt supporting bracket inverted and the bolt projecting toward the left and showing the keeper turned 90 degrees from the position shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a plan View of the construction shown in Fig. 4.

The construction shown in the drawing comprises a latch 1 shown as secured to a swinging door 2 and a keeper 3 shown as secured to a door frame 4. The latch shown comprises a bolt supporting bracket 5 and a latch bolt 6 slidably mounted therein. The bracket may be formed of sheet metal comprising a base 1 to be secured to the door by means of screws 8 and a pair of ears 9 extending forwardly from the base having aligned apertures in which the bolt 6 slides and in which it may swing about the axis of the bolt for swinging the bolt from blocked to non-blocked position. The bolt may be formed of an integral rod bent to provide a loop handle portion l0 swingable and slidable with the bolt, the sides I l and i2 of which loop straddle one of said ears 9 and the side l2 of which is straddled by the ears 9.

The bracket is provided with abutment or blocking means 13 located in the path of sliding movement of the straddled side 52 of the loop when the loop is in depending position as shown in Figs. 1 and 4 and located out of the path of sliding movement of this side of the loop when the loop is swung to substantially horizontal position as shown in Fig. 3. The abutment means l3 shown comprises a U-shaped strap secured in any suitable manner as by spot-welding or the like to the'base of the bracket. The side I2 of the loop can slide between the arms M of the U-shaped strap when the loop is swung to horizontal position as shown in Fig. 3; thus enabling the'side 62' of the loop to slip from one side to the other of the abutment means.

When the loop is in the position shown in full lines of Fig. 1, the end :5 of the latch bolt is engaged underneath the U-shaped portion of the keeper '3 to hold the bolt in latching position. To release the latch, the loop will have to be swung to horizontal position as shown in Fig. 3 and then slipped to the left as viewed in Fig. 1 to release the bolt from the keeper. The loop is then allowed to drop down to the dotted-line position shown in which the latch bolt 6 will be blocked by the abutment IS in nonlatched position.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 4:, the latching movement of the latch bolt 6 is limited by the engagement of the end portion of the side l2 with one of the ears 9.

The keeper 3 shown may be secured to the door frame either as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 for one type of door construction, or in the position shown in Figs, 4 and 5 for another type of door construction. This keeper comprises a strap shaped to provide a U-shaped bolt engaging portion It and securing fiat foot portions ll extending laterally from the legs of the U-shaped portion and provided with openings for the reception of the securing screws IS. The connecting portion IQ of the U-shaped portion is oifset with respect to the plane of the foot portions I! to enable the bolt to slide underneath the connecting portion when the keeper is positioned as shown in Figs. 1 or 2 with the plane of the foot portions parallel to the axis of the latch bolt. The connecting portion I9 has a bolt receiving opening 20 therethrough to receive the end l5 of the latch bolt when the keeper is positioned so that the plane of the flat foot portions I1 is transverse to the axis of the bolt as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

If desired, the shape of the U-shaped abutment member It may be the same as the shape of the U-shaped portion N5 of the keeper. This enables the abutment member to be: formed using the same dies as are used in forming the keeper memher. The keeper and the latch bracket may both be formed of stamped sheet metal.

It is intended, of course, that the inventionv should not be limited to the specific embodiment or embodiments disclosed or to the exact details 3 of construction shown, as obvious modifications will occur to persons skilled in the art.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A latch comprising a bolt supporting bracket and a latch bolt slida'bly mounted therein, said bracket having a base to be secured to a support and a pair of ears extending forwardly from said base having aligned apertures in which thebolt slides and may swing about the axis of the bolt, said bolt having a loop handle portion swingable and slidable with the bolt, the sides of which straddle one of said ears and one of the sides of which is straddled by said ears, said bracket being provided with abutment means located in the path of sliding movement of said straddled side of the loop in one position of the swingable loop and located out of the path of sliding movement of said straddled side in another position of the swingable loop, said latch bolt being formed of a continuous rod having a continuous straight portion extending through said ears to form the bolt, the loop portion being continuous with said straight portion, the end portion of the loop extending to a, position adjacent said abutment means so as to be engageable therewith.

2. A latch comprising a bolt supporting bracket and a latch bolt slidably mounted therein, said bracket having a base to be secured to a support and a pair of ears extending forwardly from said base having aligned apertures in which the bolt slides and may swing about the axis of the bolt, said bolt having a loop handle portion swingalble and slidable with the bolt, the sides of which straddle one of said ears and one of the sides of which is straddled by said ears, said bracket being provided with abutment means located in the path of sliding movement of said straddled side of the loop in one position of the swingable loop and located out of the path of sliding movement of said straddled side in another position of the swingable loop, said abutment means straddling the bolt, said latch bolt being formed of a continuous rod having a continuous straight portion extending through said ears to form the bolt, the loop portion being continuous with said straight portion, the end portion of the loop extending to a position adjacent said abutment means so as to be engageable therewith.

3. A latch comprising a bolt supporting bracket and a latch bolt slidably mounted therein, said bracket having a base to be secured to a support and a pair of ears extending forwardly from said base having aligned apertures in which the bolt slides and may swing about the axis of the bolt, said bolt having a loop handle portion swingable and slidable with the bolt the sides of which straddle one of said ears and one of the sides of which is straddled by said ears, said bracket being provided with abutment means located in the path of sliding movement of said straddled side of the loop in one position of the swingable p and located out of the path of sliding movement of said straddled side in another position of the swingable loop, said straddled side being movable .from one side to the other of said abutment means, said latch bolt being formed of a continuous rod having a continuous straight portion extending through said ears to form the bolt, the loop portion being continuous with said straight portion, the end portion of the loop extending to a position adjacent said abutment means so as to be engageable therewith.

4. A latch comprising a bolt supporting bracket and a latch bolt slidably mounted therein, said bracket having a base to be secured to a support and a pair of ears extending forwardly from said base havingaligned' apertures in which the bolt slides and may swing about the axis of the bolt, said bolt having a loop handle portion swingable and slidable with the bolt the sides of which straddle one of said ears and one of the sides of which is straddled by said ears, said bracket being provided with abutment means located in the path of sliding movement of said straddled side of the loop in one position of the swingable loop and located out of the path of sliding movement of said straddled side in another position of the swingable loop, said abutment means straddling the bolt, said straddled side being movable from one side to the other of said abutment means, said latch bolt being formed of a continuous rod having a continuous straight portion extending through said ears to form the bolt, the loop portion being continuous with said straight portion, the end portion of the loop extending to a position adjacent said abutment means so as to be engageable therewith.

HARRY E'NGERT. 

